Literacy rates among adults in Laos
Laos: Literacy rates among adults was 75.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
75.6%
World rank
65th
of 89 countries
All-time high
84.7%
in 2015
All-time low
60.2%
in 1995
Years of data
7
1995–2023
Literacy rates among adults in Laos, 1995–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates among adults in Laos is 75.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Laos peaked at 84.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 60.2%, in 1995.
That places Laos 65th out of 89 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates among adults in Laos, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 60.2% | — |
| 2000 | 69.6% | +15.5% |
| 2001 | 68.7% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 72.7% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 84.7% | +16.5% |
| 2017 | 73.7% | -12.9% |
| 2023 | 75.6% | +2.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 75.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 97% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Laos's 75.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.1%, 79% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.2% | 60.2% | 60.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 68.7% | 72.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 79.2% | 73.7% | 84.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 75.6% | 75.6% | 75.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More education data for Laos
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 35,584 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,396 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 116,303 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 115,863 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 532,092 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 739,554 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0716 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0939 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Laos?
- Literacy rates among adults in Laos was 75.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.2% in 1995.
- How does Laos rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Laos ranks 65th out of 89 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.